The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-10-21
THE WIDOW LESTER.

ILL w 1DOW luuO IDIG'
MAT, the widow Lester wants some
Of her climbers nailed up this morn
ing. Are you almost through there?'
"No, mum, it'll take an hour r
two yit."
Mrs. Norris tapped her foot on the
walk rehectivelY.
81 might have that bed and the trees
left until afternoon, l suppose" she
said, slowly. But"
What is up?" cried a voice behind
her, why, mother, you look worried.
Has our fortune dissolved in thin air,
or didn't your dress have the proper
amount Of frills and ftumadiddtes
when it came home? Con6de in your
baby, mother"
"0hP laughed Mrs. Norris, turning
from her contemplation OF the flower
beds and Mat. Nothing serious, only
the widow Lester wanted Mat a little
while this morning, and | want my
beds finished"
"Who's the widow LESTER" queried
Tom Norris, yawning. anybody |
ever knew? Any OF my old girls got
married and been be-. widowed? Don't
tell me suddenly. II it's Mamie Craig,
or Sarah Prescott, Of"
Nonsense, Tom, it is nobody you
ever saw, that know of. She's q
very pretty little woman, with a very
pretty little daughter. She came to
Wiiburton six months ago, and lives
in the white cottage across the COM
mon. do wish Matt were through"
"Look here, mother" said Tom,
suddenly, why can't go? Here /
am, doing nothing. What's to hinder
me from making myself as useful as
/ am ornamental? And ! am always
interested in widows, you know-or
their daughters, which is all the same"
~ wish you would go, Tom" Mrs.
Norris said, Frightening. al hate to
have Mat leave the beds, and you
couldn't do them, ! know; but you can
certainly nail up a few vines. hate
to have her wait, too, so you better
CO."
Tom put on his coat, and run his
fingers through his curly locks.
81 shall tell her I'm the new hired
man, | think" he said, as he took up
his hat. "What name would Oh give,
If You we're me? Pat sounds VEL, but
it's too much like Mat. But / could
say, quite impromptu, you know:
" Mrs, Norris discharged her man called
Nat,
And hired another whose name was Pat. =
Tom, : said Mrs. Norris, impatient
", though she was laughing. ''Wiil
you 60 on? | heard Mrs. Lester say
that she wanted TO go to the city this
afternoon. and Idon't expect you viii
get there before she goes, yeG are SO
slow"
"You don't appreciate my poetical
efforts" grumbled Tom. But he dial.
lied no longer, and was soon unfasten-
ing the wicket gate which guarded the
entrance to q pretty, well-kept little
garden which was one mass OF bloom.
A blue-eyed child was playing on the
yine-covered porch.
"VYho is 'oo?" she asked, as Tom
came ~leisureIy up and patted her on
the head.
"Tm the man to nail climbers, Z re-
turned Tom. "Who is oo?" in playful
mimicry.
else Miss Katie Lester 'Vangehne,"
said she. drawing herself up with pride.
"And dis, exhibiting a doll hall as
large as herself, lis my baby. Her
names Miss Delphme Mazda Lester,
an hers free months old"
Large OF her size" laughed Tom.
Where's anybody"
There Was a soft patter of slippered
ieet, a rustling Of woman's garments,
and Tom raised his eyes to encounter
a pair of very blue ones surveYinghim
inquiringly.
He lifted his hat to the owner OF the
blue eyes, who was an exceedingly
pretty young lady in q gray and black
wrapper.
~ am Tom Norris" he began.
'Mss. Lester wanted some vines fix.
ed, / believe, and as our man was
busy, / volunteered to come. NV
mother said she thought ! could man
age them" with q twinkle in his
eyes.
The young lady smiled and came
forward.
~ am alad you came" she said,
simply. III couldn't manage them
alone. Wait a minute till I get nv
hat, and ! will show you where they
are.
She tripped into the hall andI eized
= huge garden hat from the rack
Then she led the way around tn
house to where some climbing rosel
sadly needed attention.
ssEhose highest ones indisatin